Characterization of Hydrodynamics Parameters of a Kaplan Turbine

摘要

Numerical analysis was performed for a flow in a Kaplan turbine placed inside a pressure pipe of a hydroelectric dam. Special attention has been paid for the friction effect and the vortexes structures through the flow inside the volute, the distributor and the runner. The turbulent model has been applied a standard κ-ω two equations model and the two-dimensional Reynolds Averaged Navier–Stokes (RANS) equations, are discredited with the second order upwind scheme. The SIMPLE algorithm, which is developed using control volumes, is adopted as the numerical procedure. Calculations were performed for a wide variation of Reynolds numbers. The results reveal that with increasing of Reynolds number, the height of vortexes increases inside the discharge rings and blades, accelerating the detachment of the boundary layer. Comparison of numerical results with the experimental data available in the literature is satisfactory.